The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe, confirmed the incident. He said the police officer, whose name was withheld by the police, is facing Orderly Room Trial.

Uzoigwe said if the police officer is found guilty, he would be dismissed and prosecuted.

The Nation source said trouble started for the businessman when the commercial vehicle he boarded along the New Market Road, Onitsha, Anambra State, met an on-coming bullion van with police escorts. On getting to Iboku/New Market Road junction, the driver cleared for the van coming from the opposite direction but two of the police escorts jumped out from their vehicle and started flogging the driver alleging that he delayed before clearing for them.

The businessman, Chigele, got irritated by the humiliation from the flogging of the driver by the police men and pleaded with them to leave the driver as he did not commit any offence, having cleared for them to pass even though they, the police escorts, were on one way drive.

But the two policemen left the driver and started flogging the businessman for daring them and as the flogging became unbearable for the businessman, he asked the driver to move the vehicle and he obeyed him.

Then the policeman pursued the bus and on getting close to it, shot the businessman on the thigh. His two legs were affected even as the bullets also caught the driver on his hand. The businessman and the driver are presently responding to treatment at a nearby hospital in Onitsha. Chigele said the aim of the policeman was to kill him.